Ireland Case No. 20991Indecent assault · Co. Waterford
Bill Kenneally sentenced to four and a half years for indecently assaulting five boys
Bill Kenneally, 72, a former basketball coach, was arrested and interviewed on several occasions over the indecent assault of five boys aged 13 to 15 in Waterford between December 1979 and March 1990, when they came into contact with him as a sports coach and family friend. He was charged with 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. When his trial opened in April he initially denied wrongdoing and entered not guilty pleas, but on the sixth day of trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts. On 22 May 2023 Judge Nolan handed him a four-and-a-half year sentence to run consecutive to his current sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 May
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Bill Kenneally, a former basketball coach, pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys.
- Where
- The offences took place at Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road in Tramore, and wooded areas of Waterford.
- When
- The offences occurred on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990.
- The five complainants were aged 13 to 15 at the time and are now men in their 40s and 50s.
- Cause
- The complainants came into contact with Kenneally as a sports coach and family friend.
- Investigation
- Kenneally was arrested and interviewed on several occasions.
- Charges
- Kenneally was charged with 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys; one source places these in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny between 1978 and 1993, while the key facts do not give those locations.
- In court
- When the trial opened in April, Kenneally initially denied any wrongdoing and entered not guilty pleas.
- Kenneally entered the 13 guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Victim impact statements from four of the complainants were read to the court, and it is estimated there could have been 150 to 200 incidents of abuse against four of them.
- Sentence
- Judge Nolan said he would set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years, reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea.
- Judge Nolan handed Kenneally a four-and-a-half year sentence to run consecutive to his current sentence.
- Other details
- Kenneally has 10 previous convictions for indecent assault and is serving a sentence of 14 years and two months.
- Kenneally's earliest release date is in October 2026.
27 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKenneally pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereIncidents occurred at Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road in Tramore and wooded areas of Waterford. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incidents occurred at locations including Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road, Tramore, and wooded areas of Waterford. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incidents occurred at Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road, Tramore, and wooded areas of Waterford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe complainants were aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the offending. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe complainants came into contact with Kenneally as a sports coach and family friend. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKenneally was arrested and interviewed on several occasions. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKenneally had originally faced 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeKenneally had been facing 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe had been facing 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtKenneally entered the 13 guilty pleas on the sixth day of a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtKenneally initially denied any wrongdoing and entered not guilty pleas when the trial opened in April. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe initially denied any wrongdoing and entered not guilty pleas when the trial opened in April. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe guilty pleas were entered on the sixth day of a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan said he would set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was to be reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKenneally was handed a four-and-a-half year sentence to run consecutive to his current sentence. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge said he would set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years, reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan handed Kenneally a four-and-a-half year sentence to run consecutive to his current sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIt is estimated there could have been between 150 and 200 incidents of abuse against four of the complainants. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe five complainants are now men in their 40s and 50s. (thejournal.ie)
- otherKenneally had 10 previous convictions for indecent assault and was serving a sentence of 14 years and two months. (thejournal.ie)
- otherKenneally has 10 previous convictions for indecent assault and is serving a sentence of 14 years and two months. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherVictim impact statements from four of the complainants were read to the court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKenneally's earliest release date is in October 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 May2023Former Waterford coach jailed for four and a half years for abusing boys
Reports the May 2023 sentencing after 13 guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial, including the four and a half year consecutive term, the judge's remarks, the complainants' impact statements and the earliest release date. No existing case records this sentencing.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, 72, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 22 May2023Bill Kenneally sentenced to four and a half more years for indecent assault
Reports a sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for 13 sample counts involving five boys, with dates from 1979 to 1990. Case 806 concerns 10 sample counts involving 10 boys and a commission report, so it does not match.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, 72, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 22 May2023Bill Kenneally given a four-and-a-half year sentence for indecently assaulting five boys
Reports the sentence of four and a half years, to run consecutive to Kenneally's current sentence, after his guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial; adds the victim impact statements, defence mitigation and the judge's remarks.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, 72, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, male